Former prosecutor Siegler to star in reality show

Brian Roger, Houston Chronicle

By Brian Rogers

Updated 8:29 pm, Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Special Prosecutor Kelly Siegler holds up a pocket knife a copy of the supposed murder weapon used in the slaying of a grandmother, her daughter and four grandchildren in Somerville in 1992. During a press conference at the Washington County courthouse in Brenham, Texas. Siegler and investigators believe that this knife could not have been used in the crime. Siegler worked as a Special Prosecutor to Washington and Burleson Counties District Attorney William Parham, in the Investigation that freed Anthony Graves. After 18 years in prison Anthony Graves was released from prison Wednesday. Parham freed Graves from charges that he participated in the 1992 murder. (Billy Smith II/ Houston Chronicle)

Photo: Billy Smith II, HC Staff

Special Prosecutor Kelly Siegler holds up a pocket knife a copy of...

Murder defendant Susan Wright cries as prosecutor Kelly Siegler shows her a picture of her husband's body during testimony Tuesday, March 2, 2004, in Houston. On trial for murder for stabbing her husband 193 times, Wright says she killed him only after he raped her and threatened her with a butcher knife. (Houston Chronicle, Buster Dean) HOUCHRON CAPTION (03/14/2004): Susan Wright cries as prosecutor Kelly Siegler shows her a picture of her husband's body during testimony in Wright's murder trial on March 2. Siegler secured a murder conviction for Wright and a 25-year sentence in the case. The sentence was later reduced to 20 years.

Photo: BUSTER DEAN

Murder defendant Susan Wright cries as prosecutor Kelly Siegler...

Kelly Siegler was the prosecutor who won the conviction of Temple.

Photo: Melissa Phillip

Kelly Siegler was the prosecutor who won the conviction of Temple.

Harris County prosecutor Kelly Siegler gestures towards defendant David Mark Temple, Wednesday, in delivering closing arguments in the the court of the Honorable Doug Shaver, at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. Temple's lead attorney, Dick DeGuerin is seen lower right. Temple is standing trial for the murder of his pregnant wife, Belinda Lucas Temple, slain in January, 1999, in their Katy home. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, in Houston.

Kelly Siegler, who prosecuted major cases for years as a Harris County prosecutor, is working on cold cases again. Now, however, television viewers will be able to tag along as she does it for a reality show.

"I'm excited," Siegler said Wednesday. She and legendary Houston detective Johnny Bonds hope to actually solve unsolved murder cases while filming the progression of the investigation.

Siegler is reviewing files from cases across the country that have hit dead ends and expects to film eight episodes with producer Dick Wolf, the man behind the "Law and Order" television series franchises.

After leaving the Harris County District Attorney's office in 2008, Siegler worked with a state committee that listened to police from rural Texas give presentations about cold cases, with little result.

"It was just sad how many guys had these cases, but nobody could really help them," Siegler said. When she met Wolf three years ago, she pitched an idea for a reality show to help those police agencies.

"He loved the idea from the very beginning," Siegler said. "And with him being who he is, he was able to hook us up with a lot of other people, and eventually TNT bought the series."